Chapter Text
Shotaro works every Friday night. The tips are as good as they get all week, the time passes quickly because it’s so busy, and the people-watching can’t be beat. Lucky Bar is an understated refuge in the bustling Hongdae district, and a popular location for first dates.
Like clockwork, the jingle of the door reveals a regular patron of Lucky – every Friday around 9 o’clock pm, the same tall, handsome guy enters the cozy establishment with a new person that Shotaro has never seen before and will never see again.
“Your favorite customer is here,” Eunseok teases with a light jab of his elbow as he dries a glass, then throws the rag over his shoulder. Shotaro rolls his eyes, not offering a verbal response, busying himself with organizing slices of lemons and limes behind the bar.
The only thing Shotaro knows about the guy is his name, thanks to the sleek credit card he reliably hands over to pay the tab for himself and his date du jour: Jung Sungchan.
Tonight, Sungchan walks in wearing a black turtleneck tucked into black straight leg jeans with a black belt and tan trench coat, brown hair off his forehead. He looks like a movie star. A pretty girl follows him, face fit to be his costar, with dimples, neatly styled long hair, and neatly dressed to match.
“I win this week,” Shotaro smirks, flicking water at Eunseok after washing his hands. “He brought a girl. They’re all yours.”
It took until the fourth time Sungchan came in with a different romantic prospect to see the first guy on the roster, and Eunseok and Shotaro started placing bets on who he might show up with at the start of their Friday shifts. The loser has to wait on them. It’s not that Sungchan is a difficult customer and it’s not like Shotaro and Eunseok of all people take any issue with open bisexuality. Sungchan and his rotating cast of first dates is just… fascinating, and if Shotaro is being honest, oddly frustrating.
“Whatever,” Eunseok shrugs. “He tips well. Not really a loss.”
Shotaro childishly sticks his tongue out, then puts his professional face back on before returning to his customers on the other end of the bar.
It’s always the same routine – Sungchan only ever orders one drink for himself, and he never finishes it before he leaves, usually two hours after he first comes in. His dates have had a variety of drinking habits. Sungchan always pays the entire bill. From a distance he looks to be quite talkative, never awkward or not knowing how to keep a conversation flowing. Shotaro wonders why he can’t seem to maintain a relationship with any of the people he brings in.
“Maybe it’s a thing,” Eunseok says, chewing on a lemon slice and leaning against the bar. It’s two in the morning and they are cleaning up after closing for the night. “Like, maybe he’s a serial first dater. Maybe he’s a serial killer and the reason we never see his dates again is because they’re dismembered in a basement freezer.”
“I don’t want to know what it’s like to have your brain,” Shotaro says, handing Eunseok a freshly poured beer. One for each of them is a Friday closing tradition before they head home.
Eunseok holds his glass up before taking a sip, leaving a little foamy mustache above his upper lip. Shotaro giggles, taking a swig from his own glass. He lets it settle in his body, immediately relaxing.
“Some people are just unlucky in love,” Eunseok goes on. “Kind of ironic that he keeps bringing his dates to a place called Lucky. Maybe he needs a new spot.”
“But then how would we have any fun?” Shotaro chides. “I think you should ask him out. It’s been a few weeks since the last guy.”
“He’s not really my type,” Eunseok scrunches his nose. “You know I like pretty boys. But you could always shoot your shot with him.”
“No way,” Shotaro scoffs, taking another sip of beer. “The guy’s gorgeous, but is he not a walking red flag to you? There has to be something wrong with him. Why else would he not have found someone to stick with by now?”
“I don’t know,” Eunseok says with a shrug. “I’m sure there’s more to the story.”
“I’m not,” Shotaro replies. “The guy might just be a dick, and no one wants to see him again after one date.”
“Harsh, hyung.”
“Sorry. It’s just how I feel.”
“Don’t apologize to me,” Eunseok laughs around his glass. “Apologize to Mr. Jung Sungchan.”
“No thanks,” Shotaro shakes his head. “Let’s just see who he brings next time.”
The following two weeks bring two new handsome boys into the mix – Shotaro and Eunseok each lose the bet once between them. Shotaro waits on Sungchan and a muscular guy with a nose piercing, while the next week Eunseok waits on Sungchan and a boy with honey-colored hair and a honey laugh to match. Shotaro watches them from across the bar – this is the first time it seems like there might be some real potential, real chemistry. The honey boy is animated and touchy, and Sungchan gives him his full attention, Shotaro can practically see the hearts in his eyes.
Then again, that’s something Shotaro has noticed about Sungchan. He looks at everyone like he could be in love with them.
The honey boy isn’t seen again, and the next weeks after that bring a beautiful girl and then a beautiful boy. Shotaro serves the girl, who looks like a doll come to life with short hair and bangs. From the bits of the conversation that Shotaro picks up, their connection is pretty surface level, polite. The next week, Eunseok serves the boy who resembles a cat, with wavy black hair that falls mid-neck, and he spends a lot of time in the corner where the date is seated. When he and Shotaro convene at closing, Eunseok sports a shit-eating grin and pulls a napkin from his pocket, unfolding it to reveal a phone number.
“No fucking way,” Shotaro gasps. “Do you know what this means?”
“That I have way better game than this Sungchan guy?”
“Not what I was going to say.”
“Maybe this is his problem. Maybe he just kind of sucks at flirting,” Eunseok tries. “I admit I was locked in tonight, but you saw him, right?”
“Yes. Totally your type,” Shotaro confirms. “But Eunseok… Seriously, this is how we find out for sure. All you have to do is hang out with this guy –”
“Wonbin.”
“Sure. Wonbin. All you have to do is hang out with him and ask him what’s wrong with Sungchan.”
“You’re obsessed,” Eunseok laughs. “Sungchan is a regular customer. Why don’t you just ask him directly? I’m not going to waste time with the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen asking about why his date flopped. I’m trying to get laid. You could learn from me.”
“Seek help,” Shotaro says. “You are a deviant, and a terrible example.”
“Thank you,” Eunseok smiles. “And listen, if things go well with Wonbin and I’m not cursed by the same first-date demon that Sungchan is, I promise I’ll ask him what the deal is.”
Shotaro rolls his eyes and blows bubbles into his beer, then softens.
“I’m sure it will go great,” Shotaro admits. “And you don’t have to ask him anything. If it does go well, I’m sure you’ll bring him around, and I’ll just ask myself. Okay?”
“Okay,” Eunseok agrees, holding out his glass for Shotaro to tap his own against.
Things do go well, and Eunseok does bring Wonbin around, most notably to Shotaro’s birthday party a month after their first meeting. Shotaro’s actual birthday falls on a Monday, so they get together the Friday beforehand at a bowling alley with plans to head over to Lucky Bar afterwards. Eunseok and Shotaro get their regular shifts covered well in advance.
Wonbin fits in seamlessly with Shotaro and Eunseok’s university friends, and Shotaro’s stomach clenches a little catching the soft gaze that sets itself in Eunseok’s eyes when he’s looking at his new beau. For better or for worse, one of Jung Sungchan’s many failed dates seemingly worked out in the end.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Shotaro says warmly, catching Wonbin alone at the bowling alley bar, contemplating the menu. He seems to startle for a moment, then smiles at Shotaro.
“Thanks for inviting me,” he says. “Eunseok-hyung speaks so highly of you. I hope we can become good friends, too.”
“Sounds like you two see a future together, then?”
“I hope so,” Wonbin blushes. “He’s the first person I’ve been excited about like this in a long time. I think we’re a good match.”
“I think so too, from what he’s told me,” Shotaro feels something warm stir in his belly. “When you guys met, you were on a date with someone else, right? That wasn’t a good match, I assume.”
“No,” Wonbin laughs. “We met at the gym. No offense to him, because he is really sweet. It just felt forced, you know? He’s more like a friend. And I could tell I was giving way more attention to Eunseok every time he came over… I felt bad, really, because Sungchan didn’t do anything wrong. I was just drawn more strongly to someone else.”
“Oh,” Shotaro says, unable to hide his surprise. He was sure that Wonbin would tell him something juicy, that Sungchan had some kind of weird interest or was a terrible narcissist and that’s why he wasn’t interested in seeing him again.
“Eunseok told me that he comes in every week with a new date,” Wonbin says, lowering his voice as if he’s afraid someone will overhear. “That made me kind of sad. Sungchan is a good guy, really. I think he deserves to find someone who makes him happy.”
Shotaro finds himself nodding, as if he could agree, but something still doesn’t feel right. It’s not that he doesn’t trust Wonbin’s judgment – although to be such a good match with Eunseok, he must have a few quirks of his own, Shotaro is sure – but it just doesn’t make sense.
If Sungchan really is this kind, normal guy who looks like that, how has he not been able to make a relationship last? Unless he is just a serial first dater, and isn’t actually looking to develop a connection.
Sungchan is still in the back of his mind when they file into Lucky a few hours later, and Shotaro should have expected to see him there, considering it is Friday night. But there’s something unsettling about seeing him from the back in his usual corner spot, date also facing away from him and unidentifiable, rather than from the other side of the bar.
He snaps out of it when he sees Ten grinning and waving, Shotaro and Eunseok’s usual Friday night perches taken over by him and Johnny. The two of them own the place and rarely tend bar themselves, but for Shotaro’s birthday, they were happy to make an exception.
“It’s on us tonight, boys,” Johnny says with a wink when the group approaches. “What can I get you?”
Shotaro gets swept up in rounds of shots and laughing with his friends. He forgets about Sungchan, up until he gets the feeling that he has eyes on him from across the bar. When he looks up, he only sees a tall figure leaving.
A week later, neither Eunseok nor Shotaro win their ongoing bet.
Sungchan shows up alone, which is something neither of them had ever considered as a possibility. They play rock paper scissors to decide who will approach him for his order, and Shotaro loses.
“Hey,” Shotaro says as casually as he can manage. “What can I get started for you?”
Sungchan looks at him, and Shotaro nearly starts sweating under the intensity of the eye contact. Something feels off, different, seeing Sungchan without anyone by his side – the attention is all on Shotaro, now, and it’s a little disorienting.
“Something strong,” Sungchan says with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Please.”
Shotaro nods, and he gets to work on something he thinks will do the job, but also that Sungchan will like. Despite being a regular, Sungchan doesn’t have a regular order – he usually gets whatever his date orders, and as Shotaro has observed, he never finishes it anyway. But Shotaro has noticed that he will leave less of the sweeter drinks set in front of him behind, and settles on a double Dirty Shirley.
“It’s on the house tonight,” Shotaro says, placing the drink on a coaster and sliding it to Sungchan.
“Oh, that’s… you don’t have to,” Sungchan stutters out, going pink in the cheeks.
“It’s fine,” Shotaro waves him off. “You’re here all the time. We can spare a free drink for a frequent customer.”
“You’ve noticed,” Sungchan says, stirring the straw around, flushing more before he even takes a sip.
“Hard not to,” Shotaro says, half to himself. Sungchan glances up at him curiously.
“What’s in this?” He asks, nodding toward the drink.
“Vodka, soda, and a ton of cherry syrup,” Shotaro says with a smile. “You won’t taste the alcohol, so be careful.”
Sungchan takes a tentative sip, and Shotaro watches his eyebrows shoot up, his eyes widening. He points to the drink.
“This is delicious,” he says, and Shotaro can’t help but laugh. Sungchan is… kind of cute. He didn’t expect that, hardly interacting with him so directly before this.
“Enjoy,” Shotaro says with a wink. “And call me over if you need something.”
“Thanks,” Sungchan says, smiling warmly and giving him that focused gaze Shotaro has seen him give so many others before. Shotaro ignores the heat crawling up his neck and takes his next order from another patron.
Sungchan finishes his drink and orders another, and Shotaro has half a mind to be concerned, but it’s at least taking him a couple of hours to get through them. Shotaro puts a water glass down with the second one without being asked, anyway.
The bar clears out after last call, but Sungchan remains in his corner, glasses drained and cheek in palm, dozing off. Shotaro feels sorry for him, a new kind of empathy formed between Wonbin’s endorsement and what he’s seen tonight.
Eunseok glances at Sungchan, then at Shotaro looking at Sungchan.
“Do you need me to do something here?” He asks, straightforward.
“No,” Shotaro says, sure and decided. “I’ll take care of him. And I’ll close everything out. Go home to your boyfriend.”
“Call me if you need me to come back.”
“I won’t.”
Eunseok smiles and stacks up some glasses before he leaves Shotaro be to deal with his mysterious regular.
“Hey, Jung Sungchan,” Shotaro says softly, shaking his arm a little. Sungchan blinks his eyes open rapidly, confused.
“You know my name,” he slurs a little bit. Shotaro thinks he should have made his second drink a single, or maybe non-alcoholic altogether.
“You’re here every week,” Shotaro says. “I’ve looked at your credit card.”
Sungchan’s eyes light up and he gracelessly fumbles around, patting his pockets.
“Ah, let me pay,” he says, but Shotaro holds a hand up in protest.
“It’s okay,” Shotaro shakes his head. “Seriously.”
“You’re really nice,” Sungchan says. “I don’t know your name, though. Will you tell me?”
“I’m Shotaro.”
“Sho-ta-ro,” Sungchan sounds it out, nodding over every syllable. “Are you Japanese?”
“Yeah. I came here for university and never left.”
“It’s a pretty name,” Sungchan says, and he’s so earnest, looking at Shotaro like this is the most important thing he’ll ever tell someone. Shotaro can’t help but think it’s sweet.
“Thank you,” Shotaro says. “Is there… can I call a cab for you?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Sungchan says, and he’s flailing his arms around again. “I shouldn’t still be here, annoying you… I’ll call a car. I will. It’s okay.”
“Sungchan-ssi,” Shotaro laughs. “You’re not annoying me. I just want to make sure you’ll be safe. You don’t hold your alcohol well, do you?”
“No,” Sungchan pouts. “Tonight was a special occasion.”
“What happened? If I can ask,” Shotaro bites his lip. “You… usually are here with a date. Right?”
“Ah, this is embarrassing,” Sungchan sighs. “I… every person I date… they find a long-term partner after I go out with them.”
Shotaro’s head bobs backwards in disbelief. There’s no way that’s a thing.
“That’s why I’m always out with someone new,” Sungchan explains. “I keep thinking… eventually, I’ll meet someone who I can keep dating. But always, there’s someone else by the time I try to ask. Tonight, I really thought it was going to be different.”
“What happened?”
“He agreed to a second date,” Sungchan says, eyes going glassy. “But then… he stood me up. So I walked over here from the restaurant. It’s safe, you know? I’m comfortable in this place. That’s why I always bring my dates here.”
“I didn’t know,” Shotaro says honestly. He’s seeing Sungchan in a whole new light now that he’s so vulnerable in front of him. “But I’m glad you feel that way. And I’m sorry, about the rest of it.”
“Not your fault,” Sungchan sighs, looking like he could fall asleep again.
“Sungchan-ssi,” Shotaro pokes at his arm. “Let me finish cleaning up, and then let’s make sure you get home. Okay?”
Sungchan nods, eyes closed. Shotaro sucks a breath in through his teeth and gets through the last of his tasks, finding Sungchan passed out, face down on the bar 10 minutes later.
In the end, Shotaro does call Eunseok, who drives over in his pajamas with Wonbin to help hoist Sungchan into the backseat and drive him back to his apartment. They’re able to get the address from unlocking his phone with face ID and the sheer luck that Sungchan is the kind of person who has that info saved in his maps app.
Shotaro looks at him, head leaning against the window as the city lights glow outside. He wonders if he’ll come back to Lucky next week, ready to try for love again.
Eunseok and Shotaro each throw an arm around their shoulders to haul Sungchan inside. His keys are easy to locate in his trench coat pocket, and they find his name on the intercom list, indicating the apartment number they need to go to. Wonbin unlocks the door to let them bring him in.
The place is huge, with floor to ceiling windows in the open living room-slash-kitchen space. There’s not a lot of personality to it otherwise – everything is white, clean, industrial. Shotaro wonders if Sungchan picked any of it himself.
The bedroom is a little warmer, with cushy bedding and dark wooden furniture. There are a few soccer trophies, some framed photos of what looks like a younger Sungchan and maybe a sibling, and a diploma on the wall – a bachelor’s in athletic training.
“Do you think he has like… regular friends?” Eunseok asks after they’ve deposited Sungchan onto his bed.
“He does,” Wonbin says, rubbing Eunseok’s back. “Totally hangs out with other guys from the gym, and really close with his younger brother. Fridays are just… date night. Usually.”
“Why does this guy make me so bummed,” Eunseok sighs.
“He’s figuring it out,” Shotaro says, a bit of defensiveness in his voice. Tonight, for all the inconvenience, has made him newly fond of Sungchan. “And besides, he brought the two of you together. So there’s nothing to be sad about. Leave him alone.”
Eunseok gives him a strange look, one that Shotaro knows means he’s going to have to explain himself later. But he’s easily redirected by Wonbin leaning into him, naturally prompting him to wrap an arm around his waist.
“We’ll meet you back at the car?” Wonbin says, somehow reading that Shotaro isn’t entirely ready to leave yet, despite getting Sungchan here safely. Shotaro nods and hopes he can also read his gratitude.
Once he’s alone with passed out Sungchan again, he sighs at the figure in front of him. He decides to help him out of his jacket, at the very least, make sure he’s on his side and leave a glass of water on his nightstand. He tries not to overthink looking through the kitchen cabinets, already self-conscious about how invasive the last 30 minute have been in general. He takes one last look at Sungchan’s soft, sleeping face before he turns out the lights and leaves, making sure the door is locked behind him.